James Harold Stone was born in Menard, Texas on October 19, 1937. He passed away in Guatemala on October 8, 2024. James grew up in a small town with five uncles, three aunts and nine cousins. They were poor but happy. His grandfather Jim Rogers and three of his uncles were ranchers and one owned a men's clothing store in Menard where James worked summers and holidays.
James graduated from Menard High School in 1956. After high school, he went to college at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas for a short time. His next venture was to go to barber school and get his license. He went to work for a time in Lubbock and then moved to Midland. James worked as a barber for a time and got to know many different people in the oil industry. He bid on a University of Texas oil lease and won a good one. He opened a jewelry store called the House of Anease.
James married Laney Anease Volkmann from Menard. After they divorced, he married Rella Fisher from Las Vegas. They divorced and James did not remarry. James spent a lot of his time traveling, visiting throughout all the continents. He established a home in Guatemala and in Menard. While in Guatemala, James helped several young men and women gain higher levels of education.
James loved regaling friends and family with tales about growing up in Menard. He reminisced about how he once planted 10 acres of tomatoes, but it was entirely too much work to keep the area weeded and watered. He would never do that again. James was eager to share a glass of wine and a story with friends.
James is preceded in death by his mother Milda Stone Findlay, his sister Eoline Williford and his brothers Leon Stone and Jack Stone.
Services are pending at this time.